Sweet and Sour Chicken - Green Thumb Foodie (2024)

by Meriel Bradley | Dinner, Food, Lunch | 0 comments

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Sweet and Sour Chicken is such a yummy dinner. This recipe is easy to make and gives you crispy chicken in a tangy, sweet, and sticky sauce.

There are 3 steps – chicken, sauce, and finishing – but it’s actually pretty easy and doesn’t have a long cooking time.

Serve it up with steamed rice and steamed broccoli which is my go-to for a nicely balanced meal.

Sweet and Sour Chicken - Green Thumb Foodie (1)

Makes

4 servings

Prep Time:

20 minutes

Cook Time:

20 minutes

Good For:

dinner

Ingredients

Sweet and Sour Chicken - Green Thumb Foodie (2)

Sweet and Sour Chicken - Green Thumb Foodie (3)

Sweet and Sour Chicken - Green Thumb Foodie (4)

Chicken

  • 2 chicken breasts thinly sliced across the grain
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/3 cup cornstarch

Sauce

  • 2 tablespoons ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons rice or white vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 3 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 3 tablespoons pineapple juice
  • 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil

Finishing Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 clove garlic finely diced
  • 2 teaspoons gingerfinely diced
  • 2 green onions sliced into small pieces
  • 1 pepper sliced into thin strips
  • 1/3 cup pineapple diced

Step by Step Instructions

Step 1

Mix all the sauce ingredients together in a small bowl and set aside

Sweet and Sour Chicken - Green Thumb Foodie (5)

Step 2

Mix the chicken with the vegetable oil, egg and salt

Sweet and Sour Chicken - Green Thumb Foodie (6)

Step 3

Mix in the cornstarch and evenly coat the chicken

Sweet and Sour Chicken - Green Thumb Foodie (7)

Step 4

Heat a heavy-bottomed skillet – a cast iron if you have one – until hot, and then carefully add in the oil

Sweet and Sour Chicken - Green Thumb Foodie (8)

Step 5

Add chicken into a single layer in the skillet and cook without moving for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the bottom turns golden

Sweet and Sour Chicken - Green Thumb Foodie (9)

Step 6

Turn each piece over and cook the other side for 2 to 3 minutes or until cooked through and then transfer to baking pan in a single layer and set aside

Sweet and Sour Chicken - Green Thumb Foodie (10)

Step 7

Allow the pan to cool a little and then add in the green onion, garlic, and ginger and cook for 30 seconds

Sweet and Sour Chicken - Green Thumb Foodie (11)

Step 8

Add in the peppers and cook for 1 minute

Sweet and Sour Chicken - Green Thumb Foodie (12)

Step 9

Stir the sauce mixture to make sure the cornstarch is mixed in and pour into the pan

Sweet and Sour Chicken - Green Thumb Foodie (13)

Step 10

Stir until it thickens and then add in the pineapple and warm through – about 1 minute

Sweet and Sour Chicken - Green Thumb Foodie (14)

Step 11

Add in the chicken and gently stir to coat in the sauce

Sweet and Sour Chicken - Green Thumb Foodie (15)

Step 12

Serve over steamed rice and enjoy

Sweet and Sour Chicken - Green Thumb Foodie (16)

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Sweet and Sour Chicken - Green Thumb Foodie (20)

Sweet and Sour Chicken

Sweet and Sour Chicken is such a yummy dinner. This recipe is easy to make and gives you crispy chicken in a tangy, sweet, and sticky sauce.

There are 3 steps - chicken, sauce, and finishing - but it's actually pretty easy and doesn't have a long cooking time.

Serve it up with steamed rice and steamed broccoli which is my go-to for a nicely balanced meal.

5 from 1 vote

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Course lunch, Main Course

Cuisine Chinese

Servings 4

Calories 361 kcal

Ingredients

Chicken

  • 2 chicken breasts thinly sliced across the grain
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/3 cup cornstarch

Sauce

  • 2 tablespoons ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons rice or white vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 3 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 3 tablespoons pineapple juice
  • 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon sesame oil

Finishing Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 clove garlic finely diced
  • 2 teaspoons ginger finely diced
  • 2 green onions sliced into small pieces
  • 1 pepper sliced into thin strips
  • 1/3 cup pineapple diced

Instructions

  • Mix all the sauce ingredients together in a small bowl and set aside

    Sweet and Sour Chicken - Green Thumb Foodie (21)

  • Mix the chicken with the vegetable oil, egg and salt

    Sweet and Sour Chicken - Green Thumb Foodie (22)

  • Mix in the cornstarch and evenly coat the chicken

    Sweet and Sour Chicken - Green Thumb Foodie (23)

  • Heat a heavy-bottomed skillet - a cast iron if you have one - until hot, and then carefully add in the oil

    Sweet and Sour Chicken - Green Thumb Foodie (24)

  • Add chicken into a single layer in the skillet and cook without moving for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the bottom turns golden

    Sweet and Sour Chicken - Green Thumb Foodie (25)

  • Turn each piece over and cook the other side for 2 to 3 minutes or until cooked through and then transfer to baking pan in a single layer and set aside

    Sweet and Sour Chicken - Green Thumb Foodie (26)

  • Allow the pan to cool a little and then add in the green onion, garlic, and ginger and cook for 30 seconds

    Sweet and Sour Chicken - Green Thumb Foodie (27)

  • Add in the peppers and cook for 1 minute

    Sweet and Sour Chicken - Green Thumb Foodie (28)

  • Stir the sauce mixture to make sure the cornstarch is mixed in and pour into the pan

    Sweet and Sour Chicken - Green Thumb Foodie (29)

  • Stir until it thickens and then add in the pineapple and warm through - about 1 minute

    Sweet and Sour Chicken - Green Thumb Foodie (30)

  • Add in the chicken and gently stir to coat in the sauce

    Sweet and Sour Chicken - Green Thumb Foodie (31)

  • Serve over steamed rice and enjoy

    Sweet and Sour Chicken - Green Thumb Foodie (32)

Nutrition Facts per serving

Calories: 361kcalCarbohydrates: 29gProtein: 27gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 113mgSodium: 1015mgPotassium: 614mgFiber: 1gSugar: 16gVitamin A: 1134IUVitamin C: 44mgCalcium: 36mgIron: 1mg

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition information can vary for a variety of reasons. For the most precise nutritional data use your preferred nutrition calculator based on the actual ingredients you used in the recipe.

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Sweet and Sour Chicken - Green Thumb Foodie (2024)

FAQs

What does Chinese sweet and sour chicken taste like? ›

It tastes amazing: it's a little tangy, salty and sweet – just like eating at the restaurant! It's kid-friendly: there's no spicy heat and it even calls for a little ketchup! This is a great dish to start getting your kids to try other cuisines from around the world.

What do you eat with sweet and sour chicken? ›

Simple steamed broccoli, sauteed spinach with garlic and EVOO, quickly steamed snow or sugar snap peas. I would serve sweet & sour chicken with white rice and if I wanted to be healthy, might add in some bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, snow pea pods and/carrots.

What is sweet and sour sauce made of? ›

While sweet and sour can be found in diverse forms in China, the American version builds upon the simple mixture of sugar, vinegar, and spices with the addition of fruit juice—most commonly pineapple—and ketchup, giving the sauce both its red hue and uniquely Western flavor.

Can you freeze sweet and sour sauce? ›

Can I freeze it? Yes – make the sauce, cool, cover and freeze. Defrost overnight in the refrigerator and heat until piping hot in a saucepan before serving. You can also reheat from frozen in a saucepan, or in the microwave, stirring a few times during reheating.

What's the difference between General Tso chicken and sweet and sour chicken? ›

General Tso's chicken and sweet and sour chicken are completely different dishes. Starting with the sauce, General Tso's chicken is a sweet, spicy, and slightly tangy while sweet and sour sauce is often served on the side and is just sweet and tangy.

Is sweet and sour chicken from Chinese healthy? ›

There are 1765 calories in a 1 order (706.000g) serving size of Restaurant, Chinese, sweet and sour chicken. The calorie breakdown is 46% fat, 38% carbs, and 16% protein.

What culture is sweet and sour chicken from? ›

It is said that this sauce evolved from the Cantonese culinary tradition, emigrating to the United States in the late 1800s and evolving into what we know today. However, China is a massive country with a long history and huge variety of food cultures; each province has its own sweet and sour cooking traditions.

What's the difference between mandarin chicken and sweet and sour chicken? ›

Orange Chicken is crispy and light due to its thin glaze. Meanwhile, Sweet and Sour Chicken is crispy with a thicker and more indulgent sauce. Their different textures make them both a delicious choice when you are craving Chinese food.

How do you thicken sweet and sour chicken? ›

A corn starch slurry thickens the sauce – this sauce is a medium thickness, so depending on your preference add little more or less corn starch slurry (but go slowly – the sauce will take a little time to thicken up once the slurry is added).

What ethnicity is sweet and sour sauce? ›

While originating from China in the 1700s, sweet and sour sauce developed into the popular sauce it is today in America during the late 19th century.

What is the Chinese name for sweet and sour sauce? ›

Some authors say that the original sweet and sour sauce (traditional Chinese: 糖醋醬; simplified Chinese: 糖醋酱; pinyin: tángcùjiàng) came from the Chinese province of Henan, but the sauce in this area is a light vinegar and sugar mixture not resembling what most people, including the Chinese, would call sweet and sour.

What can I use instead of pineapple in sweet and sour? ›

From personal experience of not having canned/fresh pineapples in the kitchen, I just used a bit of lemon juice and an orange cut into large chunks. Chinese plum sweet & sour mix is one of my favorites. You can find recipes online. Also mango with a dose of red cane rum in it, but made about the same as plum.

Can sweet and sour sauce go bad? ›

To determine whether or not sweet and sour sauce has gone bad, you can look at it and smell it. The color may change from red to dark brown as it goes bad. White or grey mold may start to grow on top of the sauce or in the container.

How long does sweet and sour chicken last in the fridge? ›

In the fridge: Leftovers will last up to five days in the fridge in an airtight container, but it's best enjoyed fresh.

What can I use instead of soy sauce? ›

7 Soy Sauce Substitutes That Are As Good As the Real Thing
  • Tamari.
  • Coconut Aminos.
  • Fish Sauce.
  • Miso Paste.
  • Balsamic Vinegar.
  • Worcestershire Sauce.
  • Oyster Sauce.
Jun 6, 2023

Is Chinese sweet and sour chicken the same as orange chicken? ›

Orange Chicken is crispy and light due to its thin glaze. Meanwhile, Sweet and Sour Chicken is crispy with a thicker and more indulgent sauce. Their different textures make them both a delicious choice when you are craving Chinese food.

What is the difference between sweet and sour chicken Hong Kong style and Cantonese style? ›

Our sweet and sour dishes are either 'Cantonese style' (which is the same as 'Hong Kong Style') or Sweet and Sour 'Balls' (thick battered). Our Cantonese style is cooked with the sauce, onions, peppers and pineapple. Whereas the Sweet and sour Chicken or King Prawns balls come with a separate pot of sauce.

What is the difference between Chinese and Thai sweet and sour? ›

Thai sweet and sour dishes are very close in taste to their Chinese counterpart but have a few added ingredients, including a little chili.

Is sweet and pungent chicken the same as sweet and sour chicken? ›

While both sauces contain sweet and tangy elements, they are not the same. Sweet and pungent sauce typically has a more complex flavor profile, with a stronger emphasis on the pungent or savory elements, whereas sweet and sour sauce tends to be more straightforward in its sweet and tangy taste.

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